Alla Kouli Khan madrasa, madrasa di Khiva, Uzbekistan
The Alla Kouli Khan madrasa is a 19th-century school in Khiva, Uzbekistan, built between 1834 and 1835. The brick building holds approximately 90 to 99 rooms arranged around a small courtyard, includes two mosques and once housed a library, with its exterior walls decorated in detailed geometric patterns.
The ruler Alla Kouli Khan commissioned the building to strengthen Khiva as a center for education and pilgrims. Along with the madrasa, a caravanserai and other religious structures were built to establish the city as an important trading and learning hub.
The name comes from Alla Kouli Khan, the ruler who commissioned it. The decorative tiles in blue and black-and-white show the local Khorezm style that remains visible across the building's exterior.
The building sits in the old city of Ichan-Kala near the eastern gate and the covered bazaar Tim. The site stands on an artificial hill, offering good orientation points and views across the historic quarter.
The building was deliberately raised on an artificial hill to make it visible above neighboring houses and emphasize the importance of education to the city. The interior is surprisingly plain with flat walls, while the elaborate decoration concentrates almost entirely on the exterior.
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